Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-08-25
A PRESS CONVENTION.

The REcoRD-UNIoN has not the least
disposition to throw cold water upon the
schemes Of the Central State Board of
Trade. On the contrary, it approves its
activity and heartily encourages its labors
to bring about unity Of effort in securing
Tor Central California its share of prosper
ity and new life, and will be second to none
IN advancing its purposes. But the call
issued by the Board for convention of
newspaper men, this journal does not
deem wise.
Nothing practical will come of it. We
have never heard of journalistic conven
ton that amounted to much. Editors and
publishers do well enough when they
gather for social purpose, junketing
trip or day off, but in business con-
ventlon they accomplish nothing. The
fortress of the newspaper man is his
desk, and the weaponry of his influence
the columns of his journal. The editors
and publishers who meet as such to agree
upon policy to be pursued, by that very
act lessen the influence of their journals
The impersonality of the newspaper is its
lower OF strength. 1t does not represent
the ideas of one man, or two or dozen,
but reflects the concrete of public opinion,
and is the exponent of public thought.
There is no instance on record where a
convention of journalists accomplished
any great results, or even swayed for a
week the journals over which the men,
bers presided.
The conscientious newspaper occupies
the judicial attitude constantly. 1t is its
Office to record faithfully, reflect public
opinion, to advocate its honest beliefs. to
expose corruption, oppose wrong and up
hold theright. But it does not accomplish by
resolutions, nor achieve according to form
ulas. The proposed convention of news
paper men will havenot so much Importance
as convention of an equal number of cit
zefs called from several influential walks of
life, because the avowed purpose of the
call for the journalistic assemblagc is to
fashion and control the expression of the
press, and that being known the express
sion that follows loses force.
If the Board of Trade has anv snec;,J
and unrevealed purposes which it desires
the press to aid in achieving, it will soon
est accomplish them by stating its case
and trusting to the strength of the reasons
underlying it and the desirability and
justice of the end to be attained, to COM
mand the support of the newspapers. The
press of this State is pledged 10 advance
the avowed ends of the Board, because they
are commendable, patriotic, sound, and adj
dress themselves to the self interests of the
communities the newspapers represent.
They cannot be made more loyal or reused
20 greater partisanship in behalf of Cali
iornla by any convocstion of their publish
ers or writers. The proposed convention
can do no special harm; we do not
believe it will accomplish any great good.
The metropolitan journals will not be rep
resented-at least there is no instance on
record in which they have mad delegates
al any newspaper convention. And this
very fact will tend to belittle the convoca-
flon and limit its influence.
We are honestly of the opinion that the
Board will act with greater wisdom by de
ciaring the convention of" than by con-
tinuing to make arrangements for its assem-
bling, and that it viii better far for the in
terests of Central and Northern California
that any appeals to the press in their be-
half be made within the proper forum of
the newspaper.